He was born in Stalybridge, the second son of John Summers,[1] the local ironmaster, and his wife Mary.
William Summers was educated at the private school of a Mr. Wood, Alderley Edge, Cheshire,[1] after which he entered Owens College in about 1869.
He followed this up with an MA degree at the University of London where he was awarded the Gold Medal in classics.
[1] In 1880 he was elected as Liberal Member of Parliament for Stalybridge, unseating the sitting Conservative MP, Tom Harrop Sidebottom.
In October 1892 he sailed for Bombay with the twin objects of improving his health and gathering information on Indian affairs.